Yields and composition of by-catch from the Gulf of California
1982
Perez Mellado, J. | Romero, J.M. (Instituto Tecnologica y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Sonona (Mexico)) | Young, R.H. | Findley, L.T.
Systematic studies of the variability in the yield and composition of by-catch from shrimp trawling in the Gulf of California were carried out to assess the potential of the catch as a food resource. Throughout the 2-year study, the mean by-catch/shrimp ratio for commercial operations was 9.8:1, with an average by-catch yield of 90kg/hour. However, the yields of by-catch during the warm seasons were much greater than those obtained in colder periods. About 105 species of fish from 52 families were observed in samples recovered during the study. Of these, 9 species or groups of closely related species constituted 65 % of the fish examined. Demersal fish predominated, and pelagic species were noted relatively infrequently. Although the size of the fish ranged from 6cm to 65cm, the vast majority measured 8-14cm. These fish are too small for normal marketing and are difficult to clean. Moreover, the frequent observation of the bullseye puffer (Sphoeroides annulatus), a toxic fish, in the by-catch from the region indicates the necessity for caution in the use of the resource for human consumption.
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